Desk



1943- J. R. JONES 2,328,019

DESK

Filed Aug. 27, 1940 4 SheetsSheet l A T70NEY5J Aug. 1943- J. R. JONES 2,328,019

DESK

Filed Aug. 27, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 /0 a //v l/g/v 7'08.

Jaliies 4 0766;

Aug. 31, 1943. I J. R. JONES DESK 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 27, 1940 Patented Aug. 31, 1943 DESK James R. Jones, Lakewood, N. Y., assignor to Art Ilzrietal Construction Company,

Jamestown,

Application August 2-7, 1940, Serial No. 354,389

9 Claims.

This invention relates to desks and has for its purpose to provide a desk of novel and improved construction whereby the work-flow of insurance policy writers and other operators who has to typewrite, fillout or do other work on or with forms or sheets of numerous different kinds or sizes, is greatly facilitated and expedited.

Frequently, clerks in large business organizations, such as the policy writers of large insurance companies, have to work on forms of many different kinds and sizes. In some insurance companies, for instance, a single clerk has to work with as many as about fifty different kinds of forms in the performance of her duties, and a specific purpose of this invention is to provide a suitable desk for such work which is adapted to support a typewriting machine in addition to providing a suitable top or Working surface, and having a holder, container or rack by which many different kinds or sizes of forms or sheets are arranged or held so that they can be easily seen and readily selected, as required, for typewriting, filling out by hand or performing other work thereon, and to accomplish this in a desk which does not exceed accepted dimensions of about 45" in length by 34 in width.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a desk having a. knee space over which is a top section adapted to support a typewritingor the like machine, and a pedestal at one end of the desk, for instance, at the left hand side of the knee space, within the top portion of which is arranged a rack or container adapted to hold forms or sheets in a standing and preferably somewhat rearwardly inclined position, with their upper edges exposed to view where they are easily seen and can be quickly selected and removed from the container, as required, for use in the typewriting machine or on a desk top section, which is movable from a position in which it covers and protects the forms to a forwardly projecting position in which it provides a convenient working surface at the side of the operator sitting at the desk in front of the typewriting machine.

Additional objects of the invention are to provide a container of a desirable, novel construction adapted to hold forms of various different kinds or sizes in a position in which the headings of the different forms are in view of the operator and any desired form or forms can be easily removed; also to provide a desk with a pedestal having a container adapted to support forms or sheets in standing, and preferably rearwardly inclined positions, with their upper ends exposed at the top of the desk, and a sliding top section for the pedestal arranged to be moved forwardly from a position in which it overlies and covers said container to a forwardly projecting position in which it provides a working surface for use with the forms which then are accessible for removal from the container.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following specification of the preferred embodiment of the invention, shown in the accompanying drawings, and the novel features of the invention are set forth in the appended claims In said drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a desk embodying my invention, indicating, by broken lines, a typewriting or the like machine in place thereon, and showing the sliding section of the desk top in a forwardly projecting position.

Fig. 2 is a transverse, sectional elevation of the rear portion of the sliding top section and its supporting frame, on an enlarged scale on line 2 2, Fig. 8.

Fig. 3 is a transverse, sectional elevation of the front portion of the movable top section and its supporting frame, on an enlarged scale on line 3-3, Fig. 9. r

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the partitions or dividers of the forms container or rack.

Fig. 5 is a similar view of a container partition or divider equipped with an adjustable shelf for accommodating forms of different heights.

Fig. 6 is a transverse, sectional elevation on line 6-6, Fig. 8, through the upper portion of the desk pedestal and forms container and showing the sliding top section in its rearward position covering the forms holder.

Fig. '7 is a similar view of a portion of the parts shown in Fig. 6, but showing the sliding top section in a forwardly projected position.

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal, sectional elevation through the pedestal and forms container on line 8-8, Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a longitudinal, sectional elevation through the sliding top section and associated parts on line 9--9, Fig. 3, but on a smaller scale.

Fig. 10 is a schematic, sectional plan of the desk on a reduced scale.

Fig. 11 is a small scale fragmentary plan of the desk with the letter tray in place and showing, by full and broken lines, different positions of the tray.

Fig. 12 is a plan view showing the normal position of the letter tray when the sliding desk top section is in its rear or closed position.

Fig. 13 is an enlarged sectional elevation on line |3|3,Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a plan view of Fig. 13.

The desk I0, which is of the single pedestal type, comprises a pedestal [I at one end housing an open-topped container, holder or rack for paper forms or sheets and also preferably one or more sliding drawers; a knee space l2 at one side, for instance, the right side of the pedestal, beneath a stationary top section l3, which is adapted to support a typewriting or the like machine, indicated at M, and extends from the pedestal to an upright support l at the far end of the desk from the pedestal l; and a'movable desk top section it which overlies the pedestal H and is preferably slidably mounted to move from a rear position in which it covers the open, upper end of the pedestal, to a position in which it forms a writing surface projecting forwardly beyond the front of the pedestal. The pedestal end of the desk is supported by an upright end or support H which is preferably of greater width fore and after than the pedestal, and projects forwardly beyond the front of the pedestal. The end supports l5 and Il shown are constructed with corner legs of known formation.

In the construction shown, see particularly Fig. 10, the pedestal H has upright, outer and inner sheet metal walls 3 and H! which project forwardly from and are rigidly fastened, by welding or in other suitable manner, to the sheet metal back wall 20 of the desk, and are connected by a bottom. The front of the pedestal is formed by the parts shown in a front frame having upright outer and inner sheet metal side portions 2| and 22 of channelform cross section, which, with connectin to and bottom portions 23, 23a of similar character bound a front; opening inthe lower portion of the Two forwardly pedestal for one or more drawers. and rearwardly sliding drawers 24 are shown, each drawer being mounted to slide on guides or tracks 25 which may be attached to the rearwardly extending flanges of the front channels 2| and 22 and to upright flanged supports 26, 26:: located between and secured to the tracks and upright inner and outer side walls of the pedestal. A stationary, rectangular top frame surmounting the pedestal comprises, as shown, a horizontal plate 2i and upstanding channel-form edges 21a with inbent top flanges at the sides, front and back of the top frame. Said frame may be secured, as by screws, on the flanged upper ends of the upright walls of the pedestal and said top frame or plate 21 is made so as to leave the pedestal open at its top from near its rear end nearly to its front, for the reception of the forms or sheets container presently described, and the top frame projects forwardly beyond the front of the pedestal, this forwardly projecting portion being secured to and rigidly supported by that portion of the end support 11 which extends forwardly beyond the pedestal.

In the upper portion of the pedestal is arranged the container or rack for holding the forms or sheets in upright or standing, and preferably rearwardly inclined, position with the upper edges or ends of the forms exposed to view through the opening in the upper end of the pedestal. This container, as shown, is in the nature of an openended receptacle having vertical, sheet metal side walls 28 connected by a, transverse front wall or plate 29 and a rear transverse wall or plate 30. The container is preferably provided with upright, sheet metal division walls 3| and 32 which extend from its front end rearwardly therein, but terminate short of its rear wall 30, so as to divide the container, except at its rear portion, into two forwardly and rearwardly extending sections or compartments. The side walls 28 of the container are shown as provided with inwardly extending bottom flange 33 and with outwardly extending top flanges 34 having down-turned edges adapted to extend over and bear on angle bars 35 secured to and supported by th side portions of the pedestal top frame 21, see Fig. 8. Also horizontal angle bars 36 are shown secured to the upper edges of the front and rear walls of thecontainer and adapted' to bear on adjacent front and real portions of the pedestal top frame 27. The forms container is thus adapted to be inserted into the opening in the upper end of the pedestal and be removably supported therein by engagement of the top flanges of the container on the supporting portions at the upper end of the pedestal. The division walls 3|, 32 of the container are preferably similar to the side walls 28, having similarly flanged upper and lower edges, and the side and division walls are connected and held in place at their lower ends by a transverse bar 31 secured, as by welding, to their bottom flanges between the ends of the walls.

Preferably, the forms container is divided into numerous transverse, narrow compartments by sheet metal partitions or dividers. As shown, the two rear-most partitions 40 extend completely across the container from one to the other of the side walls 28 thereof, and thus form three fullwidth, rear compartments, while each of the remaining partitions 4| and 42 extends transversely only from one side wall to the near division wall 3| or 32 of the container, so as to divide each of the forwardly and rearwardly extending divisions of the container into numerous narrow transverse compartments. Each of the partitions 40, GI and 42 is made with a bottom flange 43 which extends at an angle from said partition to the next adjacent partition and forms the bottom for the compartment formed between said two partitions.

.' Also, as shown, the partitions 40, 4| and t2 are of different heights so as to form compartments of different depths suitable for supporting forms or sheets of different lengths or heights, with the upper edges of the sheets in all of the compartments at substantially the same level at the upper, open end of the container. The container, as shown, thus has at its rear portion wide compartments suitable for holding long, wide forms, carbon or other sheets, and a number of other compartments of approximately half the width of the container and which are of different depths suitable for holding forms of less width, some of one length or height and others of a different length or height. The bottoms 43 of the compartments are preferably disposed at such an angle that the sheets in each compartment are held 'with the upper edge of each sheet slightly above the upper edge of the next sheet in rear thereof. This enables any desired sheet to be easily grasped and removed from the container.

As shown, the side and division walls 28, 3|

- and 32 of the container are provided at their upper portions with upright, inclined slots 44 into which the upper, side portions of the partitions, which are wider than their lower portions, are adapted to extend, with the lower ends or shoulders 45 of said wider upper portions resting on the bottom ends of the slots 44. The rearmost partition 4| is preferably secured in place, as by welding, as indicated at 46, see Fig. 6, near its upper end, to the side walls of the container, but the other partitions are preferably removably seated in the slots 44.

If desired, any one or more of the partitions,

as shown in Fig. 5, may be equipped with a shelf.

41 adjustable to different elevations on the partition in order to thus regulate the depth of one or more compartments to suit forms or sheets differing in lengths or height from those in other compartments of the container. As shown, this shelf 41 is formed by an angle bar adapted to be secured in different adjustments on the partition, by bolts or screws 48 passing through the bar and through elongated upright slots 49 in the partition.

The movable or sliding desk top section l8 over the pedestal may be of any suitable construction, that shown being of a construction commonly employed in metal desk tops, comprising a sheet metal top plate having depending edge flanges, a cover sheet 52 of linoleum or the like cemented on the top plate 5|, and metal strips 53 and 54 which bind the edges of the cover sheet and flnish the edges of the top. The table top may be stiffened by flanged reinforcing channels 55 welded on its underside and extending forwardly and rearwardly at the central and side edge portions of the top, and a simliar channel 56 extending crosswise at the rear portion of the top. A sheet metal bottom plate 5'! is also shown, welded to the bottom faces of the stiffening channels 55 and having upturned side, front and rear edge flanges. Said bottom plate may, as shown, terminate short of the rear end of the top.

This top section I6 is mounted to slide forwardly and rearwardlyyon the stationary top frame 21 of the pedestal. Preferably as follows: The bottom plate .51 of the top section bears and is adapted to travel on a pair of rollers 58 suitably journalled at the front portion of the pedestal top frame 21 adjacent its opposite sides and, near its rear end the sliding top carries a pair of rollers 59 which project between and are adapted to roll against the inwardly extending top and bottom flanges of a pair of channel rails or guides 60 stationarily secured in any suitable manner on the pedestal top frame 21. These rails extend forwardly and rearwardly adjacent the side edges of the frame 21, preferably being located within the channel-form side edges of the pedestal top frame. As shown, the front rollers are journalled on flanged U-brackets or supports 6| suitably secured stationarily on the front end portions of the rails 60, and the rear roller are suitably journalled on brackets 62 which are stationarily secured, as by welding or otherwise, on the sliding top section and depend therefrom between the side channel rails 60. The front and rear rollers provide rolling supports for the sliding top section iii in its forward and rearward movements, and the rear rollers are adapted to bear upwardly against the top flanges 0f the stationary rails 60 to prevent the rear end of the top section from lifting and thus preventing its front end from being depressed or tilting downwardly when in its forwardly projected position.

The bottom plate 51 of the top section I6 is shown as provided with shallow, concaved indentations or cavities 63 and 64 near the ends of said bottom plate into which the front rollers are adapted to seat in the rearward and forward positions of the top section for releasably holding it in said rearward and forward positions. The top section It is further guided in its movements by a roller 65 journalled to rotate about a arranged to embrace and slide vertical axis on the front portion of the pedestal top frame and arranged to bear against parallel, vertical walls on the top section at opposite sides of the roller, to thereby limit side sway or deflection of the top section in its sliding movements and prevent the same from binding. This roller 65, as shown in Fig.3, is journalled to rotate on a stud rising from a bracket 56 secured, as by welding, on the front central portion of the pedestal top frame with the roller arranged within the central reinforcing channel 55 and adapted to roll against the irmer surfaces of the side walls of the channel. The stud for the roller passes through and is adapted to move lengthwise in longitudinal slots 61 in the bottom of the channel and the bottom plate 51 of the top section.

A cushioning bumper 68 (see Fig. 2) is shown on one of the rear roller brackets and arranged to strike the rear edge flange of the pedestal top frame 21 to limit the rearward movement of the top section, and another cushioning bumper 69 is shown in Fig. 6, fixed on and rising from the pedestal top frame 21 in position to strike one of the rear roller brackets to limit the forward movement of the top section.

A tray or drawer 10 for pencils, pins, or other small articles is preferably mounted under the overhanging front portion of the pedestal top frame 21 to pull out laterally for access to its contents. As shown, this tray has suitable compartments for different small articles and is slidably mounted by means of inturned flanges H at the upper edges of its front and rear walls upon guide strips secured on the under side of the top frame 21. The desk is also preferably equipped with an open tray 15 for letters or other papers mounted at the rear end of the pedestal to swing from a position over the sliding top section I6 to a position in which it does not obstruct access to the forms container. Preferably this letter tray has at one corner thereof a vertical cylindrical socket 16 which is open at its lower end and is seated and adapted to turn on a vertical post 11 stationarily mounted at the rear outer corner of the pedestal II. The post is shown as secured by a bracket 18 to the rear end of the top frame 21 and the adjacent desk leg. The tray can swing on the post from one to the other of the positions shown by full and broken lines in Fig. 11, and a sector-shaped abutment i9 is shown on the post against the ends of which the tray is adapted ,to strike for arresting the tray in one or the other of these positions. When the tray is in the broken line position shown in Fig. 11, it overhangs the pedestal in a convenient location for use, and when the sliding top section I6 is drawn forwardly for access to the forms container, the tray can be swung back to the full line position shown in Fig. 11, where it will not be over and will not interfere with the removal of the forms or sheets from their container in the upper end of the pedestal. The tray can be readily lifted off of its pivot post when it may be desired to remove it or carry it from place to place.

By the described arrangement including the open-topped holder or container for the forms or sheets in the upper end of the pedestal, and

the desk top section 16 movable to uncover the container and provide a working surface in front of the same and to one side of the typewriting machine, a large assortment of different kinds or sizes of forms or sheets are kept in plain view and made easily accessible to the operator using the desk. The sliding top section is moved forward during the working period and the operator can easily see and readily select and remove any desired forms from the rack or holder either when she is using the working surface of the sliding extensible top, or the typewriter. By the inclined arrangement of the forms, all of their headings are in view and readily legible. Consequently, the operator can quickly select the required forms and, therefore, can work with many different forms with much greater convenience and speed. No arrangement of sliding drawers would make as large a number of forms so easily visible and quickly accessible in a desk of corresponding dimensions or occupying as little floor space. Nevertheless, the desk is provided with drawers, trays, etc. suitable for other needed or desired stationery, supplies, or articles.

I claim as my invention:

1. A desk having a hollow compartment-forming pedestal at one end provided with a compartment adapted to support sheets in an upright position and having an open upper end, a knee space at the inner side of said pedestal, an upright end support for the desk at the outer side of said pedestal which projects forwardly beyond the front of the pedestal, and a desk top comprising a section extending from the pedestal over said knee space, and a top section over said pedestal arranged to, slide horizontally from a position in which it covers said compartment to a position in which it uncovers the compartment to give access to said sheets and projects forwardly beyond the front of said pedestal, and a supporting frame for said slidable top section which projects forwardly beyond said pedestal and is rigid with said upright end support.

2. A desk having a hollow compartment-forming pedestal at one end, a knee space at the inner side of said pedestal, and a desk top comprising a section which extends laterally from said pedestal over said knee space, and a section over said pedestal which in one position thereof fully covers the pedestal and forms a top working surface of the desk and is slidable forwardly and rearwardly to and from said position to a forwardly projecting position, said pedestal having a compartment which extends forwardly approximately from the rear wall of the pedestal and is opened at its upper end for approximately its full length-for access to its contents when said slidable top section is slid forwardly and a frame which is rigid with said pedestal and projects forwardly beyond the front of the pedestal for supporting said slidable top section in its forwardly projecting position.

3. A desk having a hollow compartment-forming pedestal at one end, a knee space at the inner side of said pedestal, and a desk top comprising a 'section which extends laterally from said pedestal over said knee space,.and a section over said pedestal which in one position thereof completely covers the pedestal and is slidable forwardly and rearwardly to and from said position to a forwardly projecting position, said pedestal having a compartment which extends approximately from the rear wall of the pedestal nearly to its front wall and is opened at its upper end for approximately its full fore and aft length for access to its contents when said slidable top section is slid forwardly, and a horizontal frame rigid with the pedestal on which said section is slidably mounted and which projects forwardly beyond the front of the pedestal for supporting said slidable top section in its forwardly projecting position.

4. A desk having a knee space, a stationary top section over said knee space adapted to support a typewriting or the like machine, a stationary container for sheets located at one side of said knee space and extending from approximately the rear wall of the desk nearly to the front wall thereof and open at its upper end, and a desk top section which lies approximately horizontally and is movable in such horizontal position forwardly from a location in which it overlies and covers completely said open-ended container to a forward location in which it uncovers said container for approximately its full length fore and aft for access to said sheets and projects forwardly beyond the front edge of said stationary top section, said top section forming a top working surface of the desk in both its rear and forward portions.

5. A desk having a knee space, a stationary top section over said knee space adapted to support a typewriting or the like machine, a container for sheets located at one side of said knee space and extending from approximately the rear wall of the desk nearly to the front wall thereof and open at its upper end, and a desk top section which normally overlies said container, extends from front to rear of the desk and is mounted to slide forward from a location in which it completely covers said open-ended container to a location in which it uncovers said container for approximately its full fore and aft length and projects forwardly beyond the front edge of said stationary top section, said top section forming a top writing surface of the desk in both its rear and forward locations.

6. A desk having a knee space, a hollow compartment-forming pedestal at one side of said knee space, a stationary top section over said knee space adapted to support a typewriting or the like machine, a stationary compartment in said pedestal which is adapted to hold sheets in an upright position and extends forwardly approximately from the rear wall ofthe pedestal and has an open upper end, and a desk top section which normally overlies and extends from front to rear of said pedestal and forms the top working surface of that part of the desk and is mounted to slide horizontally forward from said normal position in which it completely covers the pedestal and the open upper end of said compartment to a position in which it uncovers said compartment from its rear end forwardly to give access to said sheets and projects forwardly beyond the front of said pedestal.

7. A desk having a knee space, a hollow compartment-forming pedestal at one side of said knee space, a stationary top section over said knee space adapted to support a typewriting or the like machine, a stationary compartment in said pedestal which is adapted to hold sheets in an upright position and extends forwardly approximately from the rear wall of the pedestal and has an open upper end, a desk top section which normally overlies and extends from front to rear of said pedestal and forms the top working surface of that part of the desk and is mounted to slide horizontally forward from said normal position in which it completely covers the pedestal and the open upper end of said compartment to a position in which it uncovers said compartment from its rear end forwardly to give acces to said sheets and projects forwardly beyond the front of said pedestal, said pedestal having a stationary top frame which projects forwardly beyond the front of the pedestal and supports said slidable top section, and a tray slidably mounted on the underside of said projecting portion of said pedestal top frame.

8. A desk having a hollow compartment-forming pedestal at one end provided with a compartment adapted to support sheets in an upright position and having an open upper end, a knee space at the inner side of said pedestal, an upright end support for the desk at the outer side of said pedestal which projects forwardly beyond the front of the pedestal, and a desk top comprising a section extending from the pedestal over said knee space, and a top section over said pedestal arranged to slide horizontally from a position in which itcovers said compartment to a position in which it uncovers the compartment to give access to said sheets and projects forwardly beyond the. front of said pedestal, and a supporting frame for said slidable top section which projects forwardly beyond said pedestal and is rigid with said upright end support, said slidable top section when in its rear position fully covering said pedestal and the forwardly projecting portions of said end support and said supporting frame.

9. A desk having a body structure, a desk top comprising a section which is slidable horizontally from a normal position to a. forwardly projecting position, and means for slidably supporting and guiding said section comprising rollers on the front portion of the body structure on which said top section rolls, rollers mounted on the rear portion of the top section, tracks on the body structure on which said second mentioned rollers travel and which have flanges overhanging said rollers, opposite parallel guide members depending from said top section, and a roller which is mounted on the body structure to revolve about a vertical axis and is located between and adapted to roll against said parallel guide members to guide said top section laterally in its sliding movement.

JAMES R. JONES. 

